Hike #16 Devil's Punch Bowl Leslie Drive to Battlefield Stoney Creek

Hike #16 Leslie Drive to Battlefield Park, Stoney Creek

We only hiked a small section of the Bruce Trail today as we took a detour to view the base of the Devil's Punch Bowl. It was well worth it!

If you are familiar with the movie Silent Hill, you may know that the opening scene features a dizzying view of the Devil's Punch Bowl from its precipice with the gorge below appearing to open onto a nightmarish abyss...  

We parked on Leslie Drive at New Mountain Road (roadside parking) and concluded our hike at Battlefield Park, Stoney Creek. There is free parking and washroom facilities at Battlefield Park. 


New Mountain Road side trail (at the base of Leslie Dr) - 60 meters

We took the New Mountain Rd side trail (60 m) to access the Bruce trail.  Shortly after connecting with the Bruce Trail you will be crossing active railroad tracks.  The trail will turn west along the tracks which cross a bridge that spans New Mountain Rd. After crossing the bridge, the trail immediately turns south to enter the woods of the escarpment.

Steps leading to train tracks 




View of train tracks from bridge






View of Leslie Drive from train bridge.
Downtown Stoney Creek can be seen northward in the distance.



Train Bridge over New Mountain Rd. Caution! There are no guard rails and the track is active.


After a short climb the trail continues through mature woods behind established residential surveys towards the base of the Devil's Punch Bowl.


Staircase to the base of the Devil's Punch Bowl


The train tracks cross a viaduct found at the base of the Devil's Punch Bowl.  The Stoney Creek that runs through the viaduct is usually quite dry in the summer months; however, due to all the rain we've had recently, the creek was swollen. 


Viaduct permitting train tracks above to cross Stoney Creek - downstream of the Devil's Punch Bowl. 
The bruce trail crosses the lip of this viaduct - steps leading down can be seen in the image.



At this point we decided to turn off the Bruce Trail and head south to follow the creek to the base of the Punch Bowl. This is not a marked trail. Use with extreme caution as sections of the trail climb the side of the escarpment and are severely eroded. There are two sets of falls that can be viewed, a lower and upper falls.

Lower Punch Bowl Falls



From the base of the lower Punch Bowl falls you can view the platform above that is featured in the movie Silent Hill.  You can access the platform from Ridge Road (there is paid parking). If you are interested in climbing to the top to get to this viewing platform, I suggest you take the Punch Bowl Side Trail (1.2 kms), as the steep climb from the base of the falls on the unmarked trial that we took is treacherous and not recommended.  The Punch Bowl Side Trail emerges on Ridge Road and then it is a short walk east to get to the viewing platform. Stop in to visit the Punch Bowl Market and Bakery

Devil's Punch Bowl Lookout (as viewed from lower falls)


Lower Punch Bowl Falls


Peter did climb the escarpment (about 50 feet up) to see if the trail connected with Ridge Road at the top. This is not recommended as the trail is unmarked, very steep and unstable (i.e. sections consist of loose scree and are prone to minor rock slides). The views are not any better from the top as they were obscured by dense brush growing on the side of the escarpment. 


View of Upper Punch Bowl Falls from 50 feet above the creek bed. 
Remains of mountain goats could be seen scattered along this unmarked trail...


We walked along Stoney Creek to the base of the Punch Bowl for optimum viewing of the Upper Falls.  I would highly recommend walking along the creek as opposed to climbing the escarpment. We found the views from the creek bed were fantastic and less likely to lead to loss of life and limb!


View of Upper Punch Bowl Falls from creek bed.

View northward of a section of Stoney Creek. 
In the distance you can just make out where the creek spills over the lower Punch Bowl falls.



Devil's Punch Bowl
The edge of viewing platform at the top of the escarpment is just visible in the image.


After exploring the base of the Devil's Punch Bowl we doubled back and reconnected with the Bruce Trail at the Viaduct. The Bruce Trail continues alongside the train tracks through the woods at the base of the escarpment. Below is a view of the crossing that leads to another Bruce Trail Access on Mountain Ave South.  There is no street parking here - pedestrian access only. It is a short walk north along Mountain Ave S to downtown Stoney Creek. 

View north of Mountain Ave S access from Bruce Trail


Where the Mountain Ave South access meets the Bruce trail, you will find the Devil's Punch Bowl Side Trail as well.  This side trail will take you on a gentle climb up the escarpment to Ridge Road where you can safely view the Punch Bowl from above. 




View of the Devil's Punch Bowl Side Trail 



We did not take the Punch Bowl Side Trail but instead continued on the Bruce Trail towards Battlefield Park at Centennial Road. 

Pedestrian Bridge crossing Battlefield Creek just north of train tracks.

Fire Pit in the woods near Battlefield Creek

Close up view of Pedestrian Bridge crossing Battlefield Creek


Battlefield Creek (view south towards escarpment)


We ended our hike on the Bruce Trail today at the Centennial Road Bridge. We took a path through Battlefield Park to get to where our car was parked. 
 

The Bruce Trail continues West under the bridge along the train tracks.  This is where we plan to begin our next adventure.


Centennial Road Bridge
Stakes and guide wires separate the Bruce Trail from the active tracks.


Once we returned to Battlefield Park we explored the grounds. In pre-COVID times you could enter the monument and climb to the top. Now you can only climb to the base.

The War of 1812 Monument, Battlefield Park

War of 1812 Monument, Battlefield Park








Hike #16

Date:                       October 23rd, 2021

Start:                       Leslie Rd (roadside parking)                

Finish:                     Battlefield Park   (parking lot)

Distance:                5.01 km (including Punch Bowl detour with only 1.9 on the Bruce Trail)

Time:                       1 hour 42 min

Difficulty:               Easy (detour to base of Punch Bowl - difficult)

Trail Use:                Hiking only

Total kms hiked:   104 kms

Kms remaining:    807.9


Bruce Trail Website

Points of Interest in the area: Punch Bowl Market and Bakery,
Battlefield Park. The Devil's Punch Bowl Side Trail trail climbs the escarpment and ends up on Ridge Road. There you will see stunning views of the top of the gorge as well as the Punch Bowl Market and Bakery. Be sure to stop in for some sweet treats! We did!

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